That should you close your eyes, you might almost

Forget it was not day!

A most gentle maid

Who dwelleth in her hospitable home

Hard by the Castle, and at latest eve,

(Even like a Lady vow'd and dedicate

To something more than nature in the grove)
Glides thro' the pathways; she knows all their notes,
That gentle Maid! and oft, a moment's space,

What time the moon was lost behind a cloud,
Hath heard a pause of silence: till the Moon
Emerging, hath awaken'd earth and sky
With one sensation, and those wakeful Birds
Have all burst forth in choral minstrelsy,

As if one quick and sudden Gale had swept
An hundred airy harps! And she hath watch'd
Many a Nightingale perch giddily

On blosmy twig still swinging from the breeze,

And to that motion tune his wanton song,
Like tipsy Joy that reels with tossing head.

Farewell, O Warbler till to-morrow eve,
And you, my friends! farewell, a short farewell!
We have been loitering long and pleasantly,

And now for our dear homes.-That strain again!
Full fain it would delay me !-My dear Babe,
Who, capable of no articulate sound,

Mars all things with his imitative lisp,

How he would place his hand beside his ear,
His little hand, the small forefinger up,

And bid us listen! And I deem it wise

To make him Nature's playmate. He knows well The evening star and once when he awoke

In most distressful mood (some inward pain

Had made up that strange thing, an infant's dream) I hurried with him to our orchard plot,

And he beholds the moon, and hush'd at once

Suspends his sobs, and laughs most silently,
While his fair eyes that swam with undropt tears
Did glitter in the yellow moon-beam! Well-
It is a father's tale. But if that Heaven
Should give me life, his childhood shall grow up
Familiar with these songs, that with the night
He may associate Joy! Once more farewell,

Sweet Nightingale! once more, my friends! farewell.

LINES

Written when sailing in a Boat

At EVENING.

How rich the wave, in front, imprest
With evening twilight's summer hues,
While, facing thus the crimson west,
The boat her silent path pursues!

And see how dark the backward stream!

A little moment past, so smiling!

And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam, Some other loiterer beguiling.

Such views the youthful bard allure,
But, heedless of the following gloom,
He deems their colours shall endure
'Till peace go with him to the tomb.
-And let him nurse his fond deceit,
And what if he must die in sorrow!

Who would not cherish dreams so sweet,

Though grief and pain may come to-morrow?